ROBIN'S SONG

It will soon be November when, we will no doubt, experience our first snow fall heralding the approach of winter. "White Hell", as I call it. I used to like winter spending time sledding, skiing, and playing hockey. Then, one day I woke up to find myself grey haired (balding actually), long in the tooth with bad knees and sore hips. So, we wait and watch as the birds at our feeders change from migratory species to the local residents such as nuthatches, chickadee, and woodpeckers. Most of our migratory bird species have flown south to their wintering grounds. We may get lucky yet and be visited by White-crown, or White-throated Sparrows, but other than that the only migratory bird that's still hanging around is an American Robin. There were several robins for awhile, but now we're down to one lone male. The reason that he's still here is because of our Flowering Crab Apple tree that's loaded with tiny apples. They're ripe to the point of falling off the tree, something the the robin seems to enjoy. It'll swallow two, or three apples, then take a few a break for a few minutes before returning for more. Soon, however, the apples will be gone, and the robin will also depart. Winter's up this way can be long, so when we next hear robin sing we're a bit overjoyed, as we know that spring is just around the corner.

Robin’s Song

When the days grow longer, and 

with snow still upon the ground,

Robin 

long before dawn,

wakes us with his morning song.

As spring changes to summer, and 

the days grow shorter,

Robin,

at dawn,

wakes us with his morning song.

But,

when the days grow shorter, and 

the nights grow colder, and

winter’s breath is in the air,

Robin 

no longer 

wakes us with his morning song.

When flurries turn to snow, and 

gather on the ground,

Robin sings one last song, and

is gone.

Throughout the winter 

silence reigns. 

We pine to hear a morning song.

And then one day,

as winter wilts away,

just before the dawn,

we hear a song, 

and rejoice to know, that

Robin has returned

to wake us with his morning song.

EAS

Downy Woodpecker
Had-coloured  Etching

Black-capped Chickadee                                Pencil Drawing

Red-breasted Nuthatch    Hand-coloured Etching

White-breasted Nuthatch    Pencil Drawing

BIRDS FLY

That birds fly is a marvel to behold.

Goldfinches twitter as they fly,

and eagles soar high up in the sky.

Vultures find a thermal,

and seemingly motionless,

float like kites.

Ravens dip and dive,

and play

on winds up high.

Chickadees flutter,

here and there.

Ducks and geese

make use of flight

and migrate to warmer climes

while we mere mortals 

can only stand and stare.

EAS